In the Jailhouse Now – Chart Topper in 1955 by Kaye Spencer #classiccountrymusic #prairierosepubs #countrymusic

 

Until 2013, when a group called Florida Georgia Line had a 22-week hit with Cruise, in the history of Billboard Magazine Country Music Chart, three songs had held the record (pun intended) of having the longest runs at No. 1 for 21-weeks each. Collectively these songs held that honor for 65 years.

 

The three songs are:

Eddy Arnold – 1947/48 – I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)

Hank Snow – 1950 – I’m Moving On

Webb Pierce – 1955 – In the Jailhouse Now

Webb Pierce c. 1957 - Public Domain

Pierce’s rendition of In the Jailhouse Now began its 21-weeks at No. 1 the week of March 5^th and stayed there until July 30^th, 1955.

 According to Songfacts website,

Sometimes titled “He’s in the Jailhouse Now,” this lighthearted song about a small-time criminal who gets locked up became a popular vaudeville number in the early 20th century. One of the earliest and most popular recordings was by Jimmie Rodgers, a country musician known for his signature yodeling, in 1928.

Rodgers is often credited as possibly having written the song, and he did own one of the copyrighted versions.

The 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? re-popularized He’s in the Jailhouse Now, and brought it into the music-listening mainstream. The character Delmar, played by actor Tim Blake Nelson, sings the song and his partner-in-petty-crime, Pete (actor John Turturro) yodels between the verses. While Turturro lip-syncs his yodeling, Nelson does his own singing.

Here are two videos of the song. The first is the official Soggy Bottom Boys with Tim Blake Nelson as lead vocal. The second is the scene from O Brother, Where Art Thou? If your device doesn't play these videos, click HERE and HERE.

Until next time,
Kaye Spencer

writing through history one romance upon a time

Look for Kaye here:

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